I’ve been on a punk rock kick lately. I go through little things like this all of the time. Don’t worry; it’s probably just a phase. Anyway, everyone who likes punk music seems to love Big Black, and their controversial Songs About Fucking; I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
Turns out, these guys are from Evanston, Illinois. That’s where I live. That’s kind of sick. They got together while attending Northwestern University. It’s going to be hard for me to say anything bad about them because of that.
Unfortunately, I’m going to have to. Big Black is often classified as noise rock, a genre that I’ve tried to get into a million times. It remains not for me and my delicate, sensitive ears.
Usually, I understand the appeal of a genre that I’m just not into. I can’t do it with noise, though. What is so great about it? Someone please explain what there is to like about bands like Big Black or Lightning Bolt, or even No Age and Times New Viking. The anger that comes from the bands, I get. I like Titus Andronicus, and there are even a few post-hardcore bands that I listen to, but the pure, aggressive hatred that comes out of the lyrics and instruments in noise rock is beyond me. Please, enlighten me.
So no, I can’t really tell if Big Black is good or not. I don’t like their entire sub genre, so I can’t judge them fairly. People love this band, though, and who am I to stop them. I just don’t get it. You kids get off of my lawn.
Swole Ear 
You can’t really review Big Black without some background on Steve Albini. I don’t think anyone would say that he is a great musician. Some might say he is a great producer/engineer. All would agree that he is an unceasing (if predictable) provocateur. Hell, he named a band Rapemen. In that light, this album, from name to album cover to sound, is less surprising or creative than a Jonas Brothers release. But he got his start in your hood and he’s managed to earn a nice living being predictably offensive, so god bless his little heart.